How do we reduce health care costs and improve the productivity of a nation? These answers can be found at the Promising Practices Conference being hosted by the Health Education Council’s Break Free Alliance.

The conference will convene more than 500 health equity leaders, public health advocates, experts in healthy eating and active living, tobacco control experts and representatives from organizations serving low socioeconomic status (SES) populations. Building on the successes of three previous national conferences, Break Free Alliance is honored to host Promising Practices to Promote Tobacco-Free Active Living and Healthy Eating in Low Socioeconomic Status Communities.

This biennial conference is the only practice-based conference dedicated to addressing tobacco-related and obesity-related health disparities and chronic disease in low SES populations. The conference will be held April 28-29, 2014 in Washington, D.C. and will take place in the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport.

Poor health behaviors lead to poor health outcomes in communities with less access to preventative health services and medical care. By promoting tobacco cessation, good nutrition and physical activity in communities, we reduce chronic disease and cancer rates, lower the cost of healthcare and improve the quality of life for millions of families in the United States.

But how do we go about it? The Promising Practices Conference will showcase replicable strategies that can be implemented in communities. The conference will facilitate cross pollination of recommendations and lessons learned between the fields of tobacco and obesity prevention.

Join us! Many sponsorship opportunities are available. There are eight sponsorship packages offered for potential sponsors to choose the level of support that is best geared to their organizational strategies and goals. There is also ample room for exhibitors wanting to reach conference attendees. Packages can be tailored to specifically meet the needs of the company or organization.

We encourage participation from all disciplines, particularly the disability community. People who attend this conference will be able to distribute and exchange the latest information and practices about tobacco prevention, as well as overall healthy living at the community and systems levels. Registration will open in November. You can also connect with the conference via social media on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter (@BrkFreeAlliance).

#PromisingPracticesDC

#PromPract2014

#Tobaccofree

#Healthyeating

We look forward to seeing you all in Washington, D.C. in April of 2014!

Janet Porter, Break Free Alliance Program Director since 2000, can be reached at sjporter@onemain.com.

The only people that will be able to attend this conference will be the people that either live nearby or the people that have enough money to afford to go. This means that the ones that are being addressed are most likely not even going to be able to attend to voice their opinions and tell their stories so that the truth comes out and appropriate solutions can be discovered. As has already been mentioned here, the cost of quality healthy food is too high for lower income people. Also, the overweight and smoking (an addiction) are actually somewhat mental health issues and mental health issues are really not considered very important in this country. People with mental health issues are stigmatized for the most part and the public is not properly educated about mental health or mental illness. This is a very, very stressful world to live in an people are looking for something to use as a “quick fix” to feel better all the time. Being poor is just about as stressful as it gets. Example, my Dad just died of lung cancer because when you are poor you don’t get the same treatment you get if you have money so he didn’t and he died in less than a year of being less than a stage one. He was so stressed all the time about how to pay his bills and couldn’t even afford to eat all the time he was dying but couldn’t get any government assistance because his income was about $75 over the limit. That my two cents for whatever its’ worth.

Jerry M.

Reply DatedSeptember 23, 2013 at 9:28 pm

Dear Ms. Porter:

How long have we as a society been working to promote healthy life styles in all socioeconomic classes? A rhetorical question for sure. The upcoming conference has a very high level of “feel good about myself” quality to it. Nothing wrong with that. What is wrong, I feel, is that the problem is mis-identified. Everyone, even those of us in the lower socioeconomic classes, want to be rid of tobacco, enjoy good health, and engage in enjoyable physical activity. The problem is smoking and over eating helps people cope with the increasing burdens of society and government. Running in place is boring.
The goals should be to develop ways to get healthy foods to market in easy to prepare form and at seriously affordable cost; not what some company executive thinks is affordable. Think “Tuna Helper” without the helper. Maybe whole wheat pasta or Quinoa and freeze dried veggies to add to the tuna. People will eat more than they need, but it will be better for them. Forget fresh fruits and veggies, already too expensive, too much to prepare, and spoil too fast. Fast food should stay fast and cheap, but change to healthy ingredients, like a simple dressing on a salad, no add-on sauces and meat. No supersizes. No bacon, cheese, double burgers.
Smoking will only go when the level of anxiety of the population drops considerably. This will include workplace changes and buying power changes. Big business needs to look at itself here.
Exercise will be hard, but SAFE hiking and stroller trails in the cities, PLENTY of SAFE neighborhood parks and playgrounds and ball fields. When I was a kid there were plenty of open lots and a pickup game in everyone.
Big business needs to become the leaders in this arena, not just to provide feel-good stopgaps, but significant changes. Ronald McDonald House near a given hospital provides a great place for the families of sick children to stay at no cost while the child is treated, often for cancer. How much does all that fat, sugar, salt, calories, and other excesses that McDonalds and its brethren push have to do with developing cancer, I wonder?

Edgar G.

Reply DatedSeptember 23, 2013 at 3:45 pm

I was under the impression that this site and the federal department it represents was intended to advocate for and assist those with disabilities which affect their life. What does this article have to do with this?
My wife has been totally disabled for about 15 years, and the federal government has NEVER done one thing to assist her (or I, her one and only caregiver) in her condition. Why do you suppose this is?

Yolanda R.

Reply DatedSeptember 23, 2013 at 3:29 pm

Would love to attend, are you offering scholarships?

Brenda P.

Reply DatedSeptember 23, 2013 at 2:39 pm

Will there be specific strategies identified to help people with disabilities? I am so tired of public health programs that support “community wellness and exercise” while providing NOTHING for the disability community. While certainly serving a population of need, the first largest “minority” is never considered. Will there be best practices programs identified at this conference specifically for people with disabilities?

Rama P.

Reply DatedSeptember 16, 2013 at 11:38 am

This is a conference that helps create awareness across the professional spectrum to achieve a longer, healthier and fulfilling life with enhanced quality. A must for chronic disease control personnel.